Mechanical horn.



G. A. PRO-CTOR.

MECHANlCAL' HORN.

APPLICATION man JAN.6.1916

" Patent ed 11, 191%}.

reissues ribs.

GEORGE A. EMOGEOIEL, 6F "WATEB-TO'WN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LOVELLMCGONNELL LEANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MEQHANECAL HGPUJ.

Original application filed December 10, 1913, Serial No. 805,681.

, Serial No. 70,588.

w 1 m it may concern: a. known that I, Gnoncn A. Puooron, a c LED of theUnited States, and resident of llhlertown, in the county of Middlesexand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Mechanical Horns, of which the following is 2.

" vibrating parts.

specification. i

This invention relates to certain improvements in mechanical horns andmore particularly to that type in which a diaphragm 1s caused to vibrateand produce the desired signal or sound by means of actuating mechanismincluding a vertically reciprocating plunger constituting or carrying arack bar.

This application is a d1v1s1on oimy prior application, Serial No.805,681, filed Decemher 10th, 1913 (Patent No. 1,232,603, issued July10, 1917).

The main object of my present invention is to simplify the construction,reduce the number of parts and reduce the cost of manufacture.

In my improved construction, I employ a vertically movable rack bar andmeans actuated thereby ior vibrating the diaphragm, and as importantfeatures of my invention, 1 eliminate the train of multiplying gears andcompensate least in part for this omis- 'sion by increasing the lengthofthe rack bar and so mounting it that, when depressed, it will extend aconsiderable distance through the lowen wall of the rear diaphragmcasing which incloses the diaphragm in my improved construction, 1 sodesign and arrange the diaphragm actuating parts that it is possiblefor'me to bring the plunger or rock bar a considerable distance forwardfrom the rear end of the vdiaphragm case and thus more nearly to thecenter of mass of the born. This permits the ordinary form of bracket tobetterresist the pressure applied to the plunger in operating the hornand permits of. a more suitable and cfiective mounting of the horn on avehicle.

As a further important feature of my construction, 1 employ only asingle pivotal support for the diaphragm' actuating parts and secure thedesired movement or the diaphragm actuating member by a singlememher inoperative engagement with the rack bar and operatively connected to thediaphragm actuating member. Thus, I directly Patented Feb. ill, 191%.

transmit motion from the rack bar actuated member to the diaphragmactuating member and avoid the necessity of employing intermediategearing or other motion changing parts.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated two simple embodimentsof my invention, but I do not desire to be limited to either of thesespecific constructions as various changes may be made within the scopeof my invention as defined in the appended claims. In-these drawings, towhich refer once is to be had and in which similar reference charactersindicate corresponding parts in the several views,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through one form of hornconstructed in accordance with my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a second horn.

In the specific form illustrated in Fig. 1, my improved horn includes adiaphragm 10, the peripheral portion of which is clamped between twodiaphragm casing members 11 and 12. The front casing member 11 has itsbodyportion spaced from the diaphragm and has a central aperture fromwhich any suitable form of resonator 13 may extend. The rear diaphragmcase 12 is substantially cup-shaped with its peripheral wall providedwith an outwardly extending flange constituting one of the two diaphragmclamps.

For agitating or vibrating the diaphragm, 1 provide a plunger or rackbar 52 having a series of teeth or projections 51 extending aleng oneside or edge thereof. The rack bar extends through the peripheral wallnot only at the top but also at the bottom and is disposed intermediateof the diaphragmand the rear wall of the diaphragm casing 12. As shown,it is a considerable distance forward from the rear edge andcomparatively close to the diaphragm so that in applying pressure to.the plunger to depress the latter, the strain will come more nearly tothe center of mass of the horn than is possible in prior constructionsin which the rack bar is closely adjacentto the rear wall offthe casinVarious dillerent means may be provided for pfiecting the vibration ofthe diaphragm upon the longitudinal movement of the plunger or rack bar.Merely as one example of such amoti0n transmitting mechanism, I haveshown a lever d6 pivoted to the rear Divided and this application filedJanuary ill) - 52 engage with the pointed end of the lever 56 so thatthelatter will swing downwardly or upwardly as the bar is moved in onedirection or the other. Any swinging of the lever from the positionshown will efiect a pull on the link 46 and a corresponding displacementof the center portion of the diaphragm As the point of the lever passesa tooth or projection, it will snap into engagement with the next toothor projection by reason or the elastic y of the diaphragm. With theteeth symmetrical, the same sound is produced upon the movement of thebar in one direction as in the other and this movemcnt may be effectedwith great rapidity.

The operator may grasp the handle 54 at the upper end of the 'bar andpositively move it up and down or he may merely force it down rapidly,and a suitable spring, such for instance as that shown in Fig 2, may beemployed for returning the rack bar to a normal raised position. Themovement of the bar may be-kept within certain predetermined limits asfor instance by the en'- gageinent of the handle with the upper side ofthe case and by the engagement of a suitable stop 14: on the lower 'endof the rack bar with the lower Side of the case. By

.making the rack bar of a length materially greater than the diameter ofthe diaphragm and by permitting it to project through the lowerperipheral Wall, a comparatively large number of teeth and acorrespondingly large number of diaphragm displacing actions are securedfor each full endwise movement of the rack bar.

In Fig. 2, I have shown. a second embodiment 0 my invention. The hornhere illustrated c ifi'ers in the details of construction or thediaphragm casing and resonator, but

these differences are of no importance so far as my broad invention isconcerned. The rack bar 85 is here shown very much closer to the rearwall of the rear diaphragm ease 12 and thus does not embody certain ofthe advantages hereinbefore referred to. It does embody a simple form ofmotion transmitting mechanism and, in common with the form shown in Fig.1, has such motion transmitting mechanism formed of two parts, one forengagement with the teeth of the rack bar and the other fpr engagementwith the central portion of the I diaphragm, thetwo parts movingtogether ti ii during an operative en'dwise thrust of the plunger.

in the specific construction, the power transmitting mechanism ismounted upon a the longitudinally movable bar 85.

weenie transversily extending shaft or pivot 80, mounted substantiallyparallel to the diaphragm. A diaphragm actuator 81 is mounted to moveabout this shaft. or pivot as a center and engage with the center of thediaphragm to vibrate the latter either by taps or by positivelydisplacing thrusts. The member 81 is connected to a. second member 87also mounted to swing about the shaft or pivot 8O as a center. Thismember 87 has two teeth or projections'82 and 83, both of which engagewith the teeth 84: of

This bar is similar in construction to that shown in Fig. 1 and may bepositively moved up- Wardly and downwardly, or may be forced downwardlyby hand and automatically returned by a spring 86. The teeth 82 and 83bear such relationship to the teeth 84 and the pivot 80 is so designedin respect tooth 83 willv be forced into the space between two otherteeth on the bar. As the bar continues to move, the tooth 83 will beimmediately forced out from betweenthese teeth while the tooth 82 entersthe notch or recess next adjacent to the one which it has justpreviously left. Thus, as each tooth on the bar 85 passes a given point,the member 81 will be positively forced first in one direction and thenin the other through a limited predetermined distance and will effeet acorrespondingvibration or agitation of the diaphragm.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a signal horn, the combination of a cup-shaped casing having anoutwardly e xrack bar vertically movable in a plane substantiallyparallel to the diaphragm and extending through the upper and lowerwalls of the casing at points spaced a consider-f able distance inadvance pf the rear end of the casing, and a diaphragm actuatorextending past said rack bar and approximately the entire distance fromthe rear of said casing to said diaphragm and including one partengaging with the 'teeth'of said rack bar and a second part connectedthereto and movable therewith and having engagement with the centralportion of the dia phragm.

2. In a signal horn, the combination of a cup-shaped casing, a diaphragmclosing the front end of said casing, a rack bar vertically movable in aplane substantially lll parallel to the diaphragm and guided in theupper and lower walls of the casing, and means for vibrating thediaphragm upon an endwise movement of said bar, said means meagreincluding a bar actuated member engaging with the.teeth of said rackbar, a diaphragm actuating member connected to said bar actuated memberand movable therewith and bar vertica y movable in a plane substantiallyparallel to the diaphragm and extending through the upper wall of thecasing,

and a diaphragm actuator including one part engaging with the 'teeth ofsaid. rack bar and a second part connected to the first part and movabletherewith and having 'engagement with the central portion of the diep g-ing, a diaphragm clamped to sai 4. An automobile horn, includin acascasing and closing the front end thereof, a rack bar verticallymovable in a plane substantially parallel to the diaphragm, and ajointed connection between the central portion of said diaphragm and therear wall of said casing and having a part engaging with said, rack barwhereby the effective length of said connection is varied and thediaphragm caused to move during the reciprocation of said rack bar.

Signed at VVatertown, in the county of Middlesex and StateofMassachusettsthis 23rd day of Dece her A. D. 1915.

GE RGE A. PROCTOR. Witnesses:

JOHN F. Torre, A. E. CONNOLLY.

